President Trump said he has ruled out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to become his artificial intelligence czar, after several outlets reported he was under consideration for the position.
Mr. Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social that Mr. Bessent will not serve as the “Super Intelligence Czar,” referencing his new moniker for artificial intelligence.
The president said he ruled out Mr. Bessent because “he doesn’t want to” and “he’s doing such a great job at Treasury and that’s where I want to keep him.”
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“Why would I ever make such a change? Just more fake news,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump did not say who is under consideration for the position.
Several media outlets this week reported that Mr. Bessent was under consideration for the position Mr. Trump announced last week that he was creating to help shepherd the technology’s development.
Industry insiders and some lawmakers have called for limits on the technology because of concerns that machines could go rogue or fall into the wrong hands and cause widespread harm.
Mr. Trump, who called the position “AI czar” last week, said whoever gets the position will likely lead a new “AI Force.” The president said it would be similar to the Space Force, which he established during his first term, but he did not disclose whether it would be a new branch of the military or how it would work.
Mr. Bessent has become the face of the Trump administration’s AI policy. He has argued for both increased U.S. competitiveness in the market, as well as the need for guardrails and managing risks from the emerging technology. He has insisted safety and industry support can be achieved simultaneously.
The treasury secretary also played a critical role in this week’s discussions between Mr. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on AI, which was the centerpiece of Mr. Xi’s state visit. He spearheaded the U.S. effort to establish a notification system between Washington and Beijing to alleviate fears over the technology’s potential threats.
David Sacks, a venture capitalist, previously served as Mr. Trump’s AI and crypto czar, but left the White House earlier this year once his term as a special government employee expired.
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